WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18257, 16 August 1921, Page 3

WAITOTARA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Waitotara County Council yesterday, there were present—Crs W. Morrison (chairman), D. Ross, C. Smith, L. Jones, G. Russell, J. Handley, J. H. Burnet, and C. G. Russell. The Rangitikei County Council forwarded a recommendation that the Hospital Board’s offices should be adjacent to the hospital.—The Council decided |to take no action in view of the present financial situation. The Wanganui Hospital Board notified that t'he levy for the year was : I Maintenance levy £2554 6s fid, capital levy £l2O Ils 10d, a total of £2674 18s Ed. This did not include interest or sinking fund on the £50,000, as it was uncertain how much of this would be received during the present financial year.—Received. The Wanganui R.S.A. wrote asking the Council for some shell rock with which to make a border to the soldiers’ graves plot in Aramoho Cemetery.— The Council decided to accede to the request, the rock to be delivered in December. T’he Bank of New Zealand notified that the advance in the rate of interest to 7 per cent, would not commence till August Ist. —Received. Cr. Morrison was appointed to represent the Council at the Counties Conference. On the suggestion of Cr. C. G. Russell, the Council will forward a remit to the Counties Conference urging that it be compulsory that motor lorries should be provided with a reHector so that the drivers can see what is following them on the roads. The noise made by the vehicles prevents any warning signals by motor cars being heard by lorry drivers. In view of the hearing of the dispute before the Conciliation Council, the Council decided to join the Employers* Association. The Department of Agriculture notified the Council that barberry had been added to the list of noxious weeds, third schedule so that any local authority may now declare the plant to be a noxious weed within its district.—Received. 'The chairman reported on the sitting of the Toll Gate Commission in Wanganui, and he recommended, in view of the uncertainty as to. the report and of the proposed Government legislation re main roads, that the Council should not at present push on with its toll gate proposal. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The County engineer (Mr T. Dix) reported for the mouth as follows ■ General.—An inspection has been made of the back country roads since, the recent heavy ram. It is pleasing to report that the Hood damage is not nearly as expensive as reported. The Waitotara Valley, Ahn Ahu and Kauarapaoa roads were closed to vehicular traffic, but they will be opened for all traffic by the surfaceman during the next few days. The owners of two motor trucks that were engaged in heavy traffic without having a license have not complied wit'll a request to take out a license. Your direction is requested as to whether they be prosecuted for a breach of the by-laws. A plan has been prepared showing the encroachments on the main read through the Goat Valley. The Bessemer truck was partially destroyed by fire due to the accidental breaking of the benzine feed pipe, which allowed the benzine to drop on to the exhaust, thus causing ignition. The insurance company has taker, the truck over for repairs. The roads in the subdivision of the Peake and Flemington Lodge estates are now completed to my satisfaction. The tin chimney at the -Westmere cottage requires renewing as the flue has only lasted two years. It has been decided to construct a brick chimney in lieu of renewing the old one. Main Road.—The pot holes in the road between Waitotara and Goat Valley have been patched with shell rock. It will be necessary te develop fresh shell rock pits in the Okehu and Pakaraka Valleys next season. There remains very little suitable rock in our present pits. Waitotara Riding.—As the majority of the surfacemen were engaged at the Okehu quarry, not much maintenance work has been done during t'he month. The top end of the Waitotara Valley road is closed to vehicular traffic, a large slip is blocking the read near the county boundary. The surfaceman has the repair work well in hand. Numerous small slips have occurred cn the Rangitatau East and Kai Iwi Valley roads. Ordinary maintenance work has been done oi the Rangitatau East and West roads. Brunswick Riding.—General maintenance has been carried out on all the roads and they are all in very fair condition. Westmere Riding.—Metal repairs have been done on Springvale, Heads and Jones’ Roads. Maintenance work has been carried out on most of the riding roads. Tokomaru Riding.—The cost of flood repairs on the Ahu Ahu is estimated at £6O and repairs on the Kauarapaoa road at £l5O. The former road is now open for vehicular traffic, and the latter is cleared sufficiently for stock traffic. Owing to the wet nature of the slips on the Kauarapaoa road it is thought better not to clear them off until they dry up. An inspection has been made of the formation work on the Kauarapaoa road, which is being carried out by the Public Works Department. So far no definite date is known as to when the timber for the Mangaiti bridge will arrive.